This is post #37 in our series on Tafseer of Juz ‘Amma (click the link to see all posts in this series).
Allah says, in Surah Tariq:
وَالسَّمَاءِ وَالطَّارِقِ
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الطَّارِقُ
النَّجْمُ الثَّاقِبُ
Translation: By the sky and the night comer (At-Tariq), And what can make you know what is the night comer? It is the piercing star. [Surah At-Taariq, verses 1-3]
As we mentioned before, one of the characteristics of early and Mecci surahs, like this one, is that they begin with a qasam — an oath, a testification. And this shows the greatness of that thing, that Allah (‘azza wa jal) is testifying by it.
As we mentioned before, we should always ask yourself — why is Allah testifying? Of all books, this book is the Qur’an, the most important book; and of all speakers, the speaker is Allah, the Rabb of creation. AND on top, Allah is testifying.
Why?
Allah continues (skipping a verse):
فَلْيَنظُرِ الْإِنسَانُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ
خُلِقَ مِن مَّاءٍ دَافِقٍ
يَخْرُجُ مِن بَيْنِ الصُّلْبِ وَالتَّرَائِبِ
إِنَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَجْعِهِ لَقَادِرٌ
Translation: So let man observe from what he was created. He was created from a fluid, ejected, Emerging from between the backbone and the ribs. Indeed, Allah , to return him [to life], is Able. [Surah Tariq, verses 5-8]
Allah then talks about the creation of man, and how man was created from virtually nothing; from this, a full, functional human being emerges. And then Allah (‘azza wa jal) mentions–as was mentioned in many other verses–that He is able to bring them back to life.
This is an aspect that the mushrik Arabs had a very hard time grasping; they would be resurrected, after becoming bones and then dust? And not only that, Allah mentions elsewhere, that He will recreate us down to our fingertips–every detail, perfectly recreated, as it was originally created.
And we intuitively understand this. If you think about manufacturing, what’s the hardest part? Coming up with a product or idea the first time! Once it’s been done, it’s usually much less effort to recreate and redo it over and over–and in bulk!
And then, Allah says:
يَوْمَ تُبْلَى السَّرَائِرُ
فَمَا لَهُ مِن قُوَّةٍ وَلَا نَاصِرٍ
Translation: The Day when secrets will be put on trial, Then man will have no power or any helper. [Verses 9-10]
That’s where we are going — resurrection on a day when all the secrets will be exposed publicly, on a day when we will have no strength, no power, and nobody to help us.
Everyone stands alone on that day.
We discussed prior verses about the day when graves will be dumped open, and that hearts will be peeled; here, we see another aspect — secrets will be exposed publicly.
Ibn Katheer mentions in his tafseer a hadith from Bukhari and Muslim regarding this verse:
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar: The Prophet said, “For every betrayer (perfidious person), a flag will be raised on the Day of Resurrection, and it will be announced (publicly) ‘This is the betrayal (perfidy) of so-and-so, the son of so-and-so.’” [Recorded in Bukhari here, here, here, and here with slight variations.]
Imagine that! That person who you betrayed secretly, whom nobody saw you plan against … that day, not only will it be publicly announced in front of the entire human race that you did so, but to make sure that people know who’s being mentioned, you’ll have a big flag pointing you out.
That’s Allah–the one who sees everything, hears everything, and knows everything, down to the most minute, unimaginably small level. And that is the day that we should prepare for, a day that has no doubt in it.
Thus, tafseer of Surah Tariq.
References:
- Touched by an Angel: Tafseer of Juz ‘Amma. By Muhammad Alshareef. 2009.
- Tafsir ibn Katheer: Summarized Version. At-Tariq. 2009.
Unfortunately the statement that:
…one of the characteristics of early and Mecci surahs, like this one, is that they begin with a qasam — an oath, a testification. And this shows the greatness of that thing,…
is incorrect. I refer you to Imam Hamiduddin Farahi’s groundbreaking research on Quranic oaths, an English translation of which is available at here .
Just my 2 cents!
@sheepoo, jazakumullahu khayran for the link. What I am quoting is almost verbatim from Muhammad Alshareef in his series on this juz. Allahu a’lam, it really does show the greatness of that thing, and it really is quite frequent in this juz (which is largely composed of Mecci surahs).
sheepoo, jazakumullahu khayran, I dont see any inccorectness of the statement…… “one of the characteristics of early and Mecci surahs, like this one, is that they begin with a qasam — an oath, a testification. And this shows the greatness of that thing”……….. in any loungage somebody makes an Oath it shows the seriousness or greatness of the issue.
Here is the part which requires a little bit more deliberation:
…an oath, a testification. And this shows the greatness of that thing…
Quranic oaths are not honorific oaths (also termed al-aqsaam al-tazimiyyah). When the Quran swears an oath by the created things it presents the things sworn by as evidence for the sworn statements. Perhaps, an example will clarify this:
In Surah Tin the Quran swears by Tin, Zaytoon, Toor-e-sinin, and Balad-al-Amin. This does not mean that the Quran is honouring the Fig, Olive, Mount Sinai, or Mecca. Instead, as is very clear from the rest of the Surah, the Quran is presenting these four created things as evidence of the coming Day of Reward and Retribution. Make note that Reward and Retribution is the main theme of Surah Tin.
A little pondering will make clear the connection between the main theme and the things sworn by: Fig related to story of Prophet Nuh, olive related to Jesus Christ (sermon on the mount of olives), Mount Sinai related to the revelation of Torah to Prophet Moses, and then these all raising the question in the listener’s mind: will the same fate await those who are denying the Prophet in Balad-al-Amin?
Now as an exercise: can someone please help us understand what is it that is being sworn upon by saying:
By the sky and the night comer (At-Tariq),
? :-)
Just my 2 cents!
al-tāriq actually denotes any thing that comes by night, including stars, because they come out at night. In Tafsir Ibn Kathir translated as a stars.
Allahu waalem
@Sheepo this is an element of more advanced tafseer — not just explaining the Qur’anic oaths, but explaining why they are where they are, and what their relevance is to the entire surah. One of the scholars of the past said, they cannot be interchangeable, or it’s just like “alif lam meem” everywhere.
This is an area that I have not personally had virtually no opportunity to study, so if you can comment, that would be great insha’Allah.
Ilm Seeker,
Thanks for the comment.
I will direct you to download and read Imam Hamiduddin Farahi’s book on Quranic Oaths which explains in details why these Oaths are used and what is their significance in the Quran. It also has a very good background of how Oaths were used in the language of the Arabs before and at the time of the Prophet (May Peace be upon him).
The book is available here
Hope that helps…
Just my 2 cents!
al-tāriq actually denotes any thing that comes by night, including stars, because they come out at night. In Tafsir Ibn Kathir translated as a stars.
Allahu waalem
@Sheepo this is an element of more advanced tafseer — not just explaining the Qur’anic oaths, but explaining why they are where they are, and what their relevance is to the entire surah. One of the scholars of the past said, they cannot be interchangeable, or it’s just like “alif lam meem” everywhere.
This is an area that I have not personally had virtually no opportunity to study, so if you can comment, that would be great insha’Allah.
Here is the part which requires a little bit more deliberation:
…an oath, a testification. And this shows the greatness of that thing…
Quranic oaths are not honorific oaths (also termed al-aqsaam al-tazimiyyah). When the Quran swears an oath by the created things it presents the things sworn by as evidence for the sworn statements. Perhaps, an example will clarify this:
In Surah Tin the Quran swears by Tin, Zaytoon, Toor-e-sinin, and Balad-al-Amin. This does not mean that the Quran is honouring the Fig, Olive, Mount Sinai, or Mecca. Instead, as is very clear from the rest of the Surah, the Quran is presenting these four created things as evidence of the coming Day of Reward and Retribution. Make note that Reward and Retribution is the main theme of Surah Tin.
A little pondering will make clear the connection between the main theme and the things sworn by: Fig related to story of Prophet Nuh, olive related to Jesus Christ (sermon on the mount of olives), Mount Sinai related to the revelation of Torah to Prophet Moses, and then these all raising the question in the listener’s mind: will the same fate await those who are denying the Prophet in Balad-al-Amin?
Now as an exercise: can someone please help us understand what is it that is being sworn upon by saying:
By the sky and the night comer (At-Tariq),
? :-)
Just my 2 cents!